Crown City’s Royal Pains Roll Into Second Season

With their second season just on the horizon, the women of Cortland’s Crown City Rollerz Royal Pains are preparing to take to the flat track. The Royal Pains roller derby team have one season under their belt and are ready to knock wheels with a new list of formidable opponents.

“We are miles down the road from the start of last season. Our team has grown, strengthened, and developed many leaders that are leading the Royal Pains in amazing ways,” said Coach Kathryn “KaTaKlysm” Coldren.

CCR’s Royal Pains are set to face-off against eight teams this season. The J.M. McDonald Sports Complex will host the team’s five home bouts, with the first match set for April 28 against rival Assault City from Syracuse. The doors open at 6 p.m. with the whistle at 7 p.m.

“This is our second season. We know what to expect from our opponents and from our own teammates,” said Shannon “Iva Secret” Bush. “I’m most excited for our home season opener against Syracuse’s ACRD. We have a score to settle.”

Co-captain and SUNY Cortland student Erin “Helluva Mess” Carrino is excited for her second season with the Crown City Rollerz.

“I am really excited for our competitors and fans to see us bout for the first time this season,” she said. “We have improved a lot during the off-season and I am eager to come out as a ‘new’ team. I am really thrilled to be competing consistently and getting a chance to put all our hard work and training into action on the track.”

The league formed in 2010 with a few determined skaters and a vision. In April 2010, Jane “HipsWitch” Witty and Nicole “RollerTroll” Koekebacker held the first information meeting to start a roller derby league in Cortland. Nineteen skaters, two coaches and a volunteer showed up that night andwithin five days they had rentals skates, protective gear, and their wheels hit the floor of the J.M. McDonald Sports Complex. And the league has continued to grow ever since.

“For a league of our size, location, and the fact that we’re just heading into our sophomore year, we’re blessed to have the number of skaters that we do, the terrific bout turf that JM McDonald provides, and a very supportive community,” said Witty. “The skaters and volunteers in the league are highly dedicated and organized, because of this, we’ve been able to accomplish a great deal in our two short years.”

Since the beginning, the Royal Pains have continued to add members, secured an improved practice space and gained more support from the Cortland community.

“Every sponsor we get makes me yelp with joy,” said Witty. “Every time a woman crosses the threshold of our doors and asks if she can join practice that night; Every time after a bout a skater bends down to greet a little girl asking for an autograph — that’s why we do this.”

The Crown City Rollerz is a nonprofit organization that makes it a priority to give back to the Cortland community that has so graciously supported this sport. A portion of the proceeds from every home bout go to local organizations.

“Our bouts are all to help local organizations such as the Cortland Free Library, Cortland Toys for Tots, Loaves & Fishes, YWCA, and CRMC Hospital Aid,” said Witty.

“Derby is one of the most interesting sports to watch and there is always something exciting happening,” said Carrino. “People have a lot of misconceptions about derby so they should come find out what it is for themselves.”

There is no off-season as far as practice goes for the Royal Pains. With the exception of two weeks around Christmas, the team practices two to three times a week year-round. The sport takes up a significant amount of time and the women keep each other motivated to continuously train.

“My derby idol is that lady, you know her — she’s everywhere,” said Dana “Evil Lucian” Soprano. “She’s a single mom of two kids who works two jobs to pay the bills and still finds time to dedicate herself to three-plus days a week of training to do something for herself that nothing else can rival.”

The Royal Pains will travel to neighboring communities to compete in addition to playing in Cortland. The team heads to Watertown for the first bout of the season on April 14 against the Black River Rollers. There are four away bouts scheduled for the 2012 season, with the last on Nov. 10 in State College, Pa.

“People can’t believe that Cortland has a roller derby team,” said Amanda “Mandatori Chaos” Hartnett. “They all say they remember it from way back when and would love to come see it. Quit the talk and come witness the roller derby revolution right here in Cortland, N.Y.”

For a full schedule, visit www.crowncityrollerz.com or find them on Facebook.